The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-06-23
MT NNESOTA NEWS.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.


Annual Aceting In st. Paul and What Was Done.
The second annual meeting OF the rail.
road commissioners OF the Northwestern
statcs was held at st. Paul. This confer.
ence was called for the purpose OF consider.
ing various matters OF interest to these Of
iiclals the Interstate commerce act coming
in for II liberal amount of the time OF the
first day.
Commissioner Potter A. Day OF Iowa was
made temporary president; Z. G. Morgan
OF Iowa, secretary.
Gov. Austin OF Minnesota was made
permanent president and Il. s. Warner
OF Minnesota permanent secretary.
lhe following commissioners were pres
ent. Wlsconsin-Otley Peterson. Iowa
Peter Day, l.. s. Coffin, Il. G. Morgan,
secretary. Ncbraska-O. p. Mason, ].
II. Ager, Charles Buschow. ii. NJ Waring,
chief clerk. Dakota-Alex Griggs, A. Boyn.
ton, N. T. Smith, j. NJ. Quinn, secretary.
Minnesota-Gov. Austin, j. l.. Gibbs, GEN.
Becker, Secretary Warner.
Topics for discussion were announced in.
Guiding:
The Interstate commerce law, safety ap-
plianees on cars, prohibition OF railroad
work on Sunday, limiting the hours OF a
run by a train crew by statute. basing
freight rates on what the traffic will bear, "
uniformity III reports, what appliances, il
any, should railroad companies be requir-
ed to adopt for lessening danger from fires
kindled by locomotives.
After ample discussions for two DAYS the
resolutions, adopted were as follows:
Resolved, That in the opinion OF the
members of this convention the phrase
"under substantially similar circumstances
and conditions" in the fourth section OF the
Interstate commerce law, should be con.
strued literally, and that lower rate to
n manufacturer or producer is not in con-
fict with the spirit Of this section OF that
law, provided all persons and
localities, under substantially SINH
lar circumstances and con-
ditions, are treated alike and they would
merce commission an official interpreted
tion OF the section, ii not inconsistent
with their views.
Messrs. Becker and Gibbs voted way on
the above. The other resolutions were
Resolved, That this convention, COM
posed OF the railroad commissioners OF the
States OF Iowa. Wisconsin, Nebraska and
Minnesota, and the Territory of Oak kota,
respectfully calls the attention OF the
interstate commission to the utility
and Importance of maintaining uniform
classification concerning the railroad freight
traffic OF the entire country, and that we
earnestly request that steps may be taken
to secure such uniformity in classification
covering all shipments OF freight to the diff
ferent states and territories of the Union.
To the attainment OF this end the different
commissions here represented pledge their
cordial cooperation and assistance.
Resolved, That we regard section five of
the Interstate commerce law, which makes
it unlawful for common car
riers operating competing lines to
enter into any contract, agreement or
ombination for the pooling OF freights, or
dividing the net proceeds OF their earnings,
as essential to tho best interests OF the
states we represent, and ask its enforce.
ment to the fullest extent by the national
commission and by the state commission
er where the statutes empower them to do
80.
Resolved, That the chairman OF this
convention be requested to open CORE
spondence with the heinterstate commission,
and with the commissioners OF the differ
enc states and territories OF the Union,
for the purpose OF securing from
them all expression OF their views with re-
ference to the utility OF q general conven-
and son paee as ot the darsn time
missions OF the country charged with the
administration OF the laws governing and
controlling common carriers in the United
States. This convention hereby explains
it's views in favor Of such an assemblage
of the federal state and territorial COM
missions.
Thereas: 1t has been demonstrated that
automatic couplers can be successfully ap-
piled to freight cars, rendering it unneces-
sary for brakemen to go between cars, ETC.
Resolved, That the convention hereby
asks the legislatures OF the respective states
represented to enact such laws as will
speedily secure the application ofautomatic
couplers and power brakes to the cars of
railways in their respective states. The
attention OF railroad managers is called to
the danger and risk to the travelling public
and employees from working employees OF
trains q great and unreasonable number
OF hours without sleep aud rest, apd SO
far as practical this should be avoided In
the operation OF railr roads.